My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 77: Surprise Visitor

"UNCLE FELIX!!"

Maya’s voice rang out like a bell as she spotted the tall man across the daycare room. Her little legs dashed forward as fast as they could go, her backpack bouncing behind her with every step. A few other kids paused their coloring or Lego building to watch, but Maya didn’t care. She was already throwing herself into Felix’s arms the moment he crouched down to catch her.

"There’s my girl!" Felix laughed, lifting her up easily and giving her a big, warm hug. "And here’s my favorite little guy," he added as Nathan quietly walked up beside him, holding his drawing book.

Nathan didn’t shout like she did, but he smiled wide when Felix ruffled his hair.

Maya grinned so hard her cheeks hurt. "You came to get us again!"

"Of course I did, baby girl."

Maya leaned her head on his shoulder as he carried her with one arm and reached for Nathan’s hand with the other. "Mommy said it’s just until Jazz gets all better," she said. "Then she can pick us up again."

"Well.... let’s go home, yeah?" Felix replied, leading them out.

"Yeah!!" Maya cheered.

When they arrived at Felix’s house, Maya’s eyes turned huge. It wasn’t her first time, but still—every time felt like the first.

She held onto Nathan’s hand as they walked inside, her eyes spinning around, taking it all in again

The house was huge. A very tall door. Big windows that caught the sky. A little fountain near the front steps that gurgled softly, the water sparkling as they passed.

While Felix moved around the kitchen preparing dinner, Maya and Nathan spent the late afternoon in the backyard, completely lost in their own world.

The sky faded into shades of purple and peach as the sun dipped behind the trees just as Felix called them in.

"Twins! Dinner’s ready!" Felix’s voice floated out from the open kitchen window, and the two kids dashed back inside, breathless and grinning.

Dinner was so good.

Maya kicked her feet happily under the table as she ate. "Mmm! This tastes like Mommy’s cooking!"

"I’ll take that as a compliment," Felix said with a wink.

After their plates were cleared, Felix brought his phone out and placed it between them. "Let’s try your mom, huh?"

Maya scooted closer, eyes hopeful. Nathan sat beside her, his little fingers tapping the table nervously.

The phone rang... and rang... but no one answered.

Again.

Maya’s smile wobbled. She puffed out her cheeks and folded her arms. "Is Mommy super-duper busy again?"

Felix knelt down beside her and gently brushed her hair behind her ear. His touch was warm and soft.

"I’m sorry, sweetheart," he said quietly. "I’m the one who sent her far away for work. I didn’t mean for her to be gone this long. I hope you and Nathan still like me."

Maya tilted her head. "Of course we like you, Uncle Felix."

"Yeah," Nathan added with a firm little nod. "We’ll never not like you."

Felix looked surprised. Then touched. His eyes turned shiny, like when Mommy watches her favorite sad movie, and he smiled slowly.

"Ow," he said, pretending to be hurt in the chest. "You two are too sweet. My heart can’t take it."

Then he pulled them both into a hug, wrapping his long arms around them tight. Maya giggled and hugged him back, squishing her cheek against his chest.

"Can we watch a movie while we wait for Mommy?" she asked as he let them go.

Felix stood and clapped his hands. "I thought you’d never ask. To the cinema!"

Maya gasped when she entered the room.

It was the biggest TV she had ever seen. Almost as big as a wall. There was a giant couch shaped like a big squishy C and a shiny popcorn machine in the corner, popping away like fireworks.

"This is the coolest room EVER!" she shouted, twirling in place.

Nathan’s mouth opened a little. "It’s like a real movie place..."

Felix laughed and handed them each a popcorn bowl before sitting with them in the center. "Tonight’s feature: Little Dog’s Big Adventure!"

The movie started, and the screen filled with bright colors and a tiny brown puppy who got separated from his doggy family and had to find his way back. Maya gasped and laughed and covered her mouth at the sad parts, snuggled up under a blanket with Nathan beside her and Felix’s arm stretched on the couch.

It felt cozy. Safe.

Warm.

Halfway through the movie, Maya wriggled. "Uncle Felix... I hafta go potty!"

Felix paused the screen. "Okay. Need help?"

"I’m a big girl!" Maya announced proudly, already hopping off the couch and skipping toward the hallway.

She followed the lights toward the bathroom, humming the movie’s theme song as she went. She washed her hands like her mother taught her, then dried them on the fluffy towel hanging on the ring.

As she walked back to the cinema room, she heard it.

Ding dong!

The doorbell.

Her heart jumped with excitement.

"It’s Mommy!"

She ran to the front door as fast as she could, her socks sliding on the floor. She reached up on her tiptoes, grabbing the door handle with both hands and pulling it open.

But it wasn’t her mommy.

It was someone else.

A lady. A very pretty lady.

She had shiny earrings and dark red lipstick and hair pulled up neatly like a fancy TV actress. She wore a long coat and heels that clicked on the porch tiles.

"Oh..." the lady blinked down. "Excuse me, little girl. Who are you?"

Maya blinked up at her, unsure. "Um..."

"Maya!"

Felix’s voice suddenly rang out from behind her, rushing closer. She turned to see him coming down the hallway fast, his expression surprised.

Then he stopped. His eyes moved from Maya to the woman at the door.

"...Mom?" he said.

The woman blinked once, then smiled slowly.

Maya stood there between them, looking from one to the other as they stared at each other.

She didn’t know what was going on...